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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Please tell me about electric breast pumps

15 replies

maja00 · 17/08/2013 20:05

I fed my first DS for a year - I had a hand pump but just didn't get on with it, found it hard to get a letdown and just found the whole experience a bit icky Never managed to express more than 30ml.

If I ever wanted to go out without him or leave him overnight he had formula from a bottle with no problems.

I'm expecting DC2 and would like to make more of an effort to avoid formula this time, so was thinking about trying an electric pump. Do you think this would make a difference?

At around £100 though I am reluctant to buy one if I still can't express!

OP posts:

Bloodsocks · 17/08/2013 20:09

I'm not a big fan although I've only tried one so def not an expert! I find it hard to get much out, about 2ozs after half and hour pumping on both sides. They are quite noisy and a bit of a faff as well.

rockybalboa · 17/08/2013 20:24

I have a Mini Medela and its great. Am sure they don't cost £100 either, more like £50 I think.

Wildwaterfalls · 17/08/2013 20:28

Loved the Medela Swing. Really easy to use (my mum commented on how 'good' I was at expressing even in the early weeks, but really the pump did it all) and expressed loads. It does a kind of natural rhythm, starting with short fast 'sucks' and then you switch to longer slower 'sucks' upon letdown.

PlantGirl · 17/08/2013 20:57

I second a vote for the Medela swing

Littlemissexpecting · 17/08/2013 21:02

I third the medala swing.
Only issue we have with it is ds won't take the bottles for it so we need to decant into a different bottle but bottles great for storing milk in.

CrazySexyCool123 · 17/08/2013 21:02

I use the Phillips Avent. I'm an 'exclusive expresser' and I've made it to 6 months so far. You can set it to any pattern. The most I've got in one go is 15oz and I make 50-60 a day. DS takes 40-50oz a day. I find that you can't really just leave it to run. A lot of breast massage helps.

GreatSoprendo · 17/08/2013 23:18

Yes - Medela Swing here too. Could be quieter, but seems to work well. I got very little with a hand pump, but get easily 4oz each side each time with the swing.

MummyKanny · 18/08/2013 03:23

Another vote for the medela swing although the avent is good too. I've been exclusively expressing for 4 weeks now and have had enough milk. Although have just dropped a bottle all over my legs but can't blame that on the machine

riffleraffle · 18/08/2013 08:16

I used the ardo calypso,got it on loan from neonatal. It was v good. If I need to express this time round I'm buying one of them. Think you can get them in boots but don't think they are that well known. There was a massive difference between the ardo and a Phillips one i already had.

www.ardobreastpumps.co.uk/Calypso-Double-breastpump

JiltedJohnsJulie · 18/08/2013 10:51

Exactly the same as you, only my first wouldn't have the bottle or the formula. For dc2 I bought an ameda lactaline second hand and it was fantastic.

I would really, really recommend the lactaline. Have a look at the reviews on Mn and see what you think.

There are some links here that you might find useful, especially if you would consider buying second hand

KeepTheFaithBaby · 18/08/2013 20:24

I have the Philips Avent and have been really pleased with it. It's a bit cheaper than the Medela swing but have got on really well with it.

shelly81 · 18/08/2013 22:07

Definately the medela swing :) I can get 7oz off one side in the morning whilst dd feeds off the other side xx

MotherofDragons82 · 19/08/2013 12:03

Don't buy the Tommy Tippee one, it's hopeless.

I could get 10oz some days with the hospital grade one I ended up hiring and still, after 10 months of bfing, can't get more than 3oz at a time with the Tommee Tippee Close to Nature electric pump.

Original poster

maja00 · 19/08/2013 12:37

Thanks everyone, I will definitely avoid the TT one and look into the others mentioned.

OP posts:

Franchini · 19/08/2013 12:54

I had to express for my daughter until 4 months as we were uncompatible! lol. I must admit it was a complete nightmare and would have been totally impossible without my trusty pump.

I used the Medela Swing on reccomendation of my midwife. It is fantastic. I bought extra parts for it as was using it so much so had extra boob funnel (!) and valve seals - all the spares can be bought online.

You can also put batteries in the medela so it can be used when you are out and about too.

The bottles that you express into can be used to feed your baby using either the medela teat or you can buy small standard bottle teats from boots/asda etc that fit too. This saves messing aroung transfering the milk into different bottles.

They say not to buy a second hand one due to transfer of germs etc but you can buy all the spares online (that come into contact with the boob and the milk) and I honestly think it would be fine as it is the pump unit which is the most expensive part. (obviously this would be your choice and is nor recomended).

I also used the tommie tippie electric pump for the first couple of days after having my dd. It was fine for occasional use but I did not get much milk out with it.
I would stick to the Medela.

Good luck x

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